License plate holder



June 13, 1939. F, FUMNE` 2,162,634

LICENSE PLATE HOLDER Filed OCT.. 3, 1958 Z7 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS FPedPaL'ne Patented June 13, 19239 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv Application October 3,

5 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to license plate holders for vehicles, and its general object is to provide a holder that does not require the use of bolt and nut connections, screws or the like, for securing the plate thereto, nor tools in applying and removing the same, yet the plate is held with the indicia thereof completely displayed and against any possibility of rattling, casual removal or displacement.

A further object is to provide a holder that is adjustable to t plates of various sizes and can be adjusted and a plate applied and removed with respect thereto in an easy and expeditious manner, and with minimum effort on the part of the user.

Another object is to provide a holder that is in the form of a spring clamp and it not only acts to fixedly associate the plate thereto, but amply supports and braces the plate.

A still further object is to provide a holder that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely ecient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a rear view of the license plate holder which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a link of the spring pressed lever for the clamping plate.

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the spring abutment washers.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral I indicates the body of my holder which in fact is a plate of rectangular configuration to conform to the shape of the usual license plate or tag A and has a tongue 2 formed on and depending centrally therefrom to be received by an attaching bracket fixed to the vehicle for securing the holder thereto. The plate I acts as a backing for the plate A and has formed thereon 1938, Serial No. 233,086

channel flanges 3, along the lower and one side edge thereof to receive and support the plate A.

Cooperating with the body plate I is a clamping plate 4 of elongated substantially triangular formation and having an upper and a side edge, both of which are straight and provided with channelflanges 5 formed thereon to receive the upper and opposite side edge of the license plate, as best shown in Figure 1. The clamping plate is likewise provided with a relatively long narrow slot 5 extending parallel with the upper straight edge thereof and having an enlarged end in the form of a rounded recess 8 disposed at one end only, as well as a plurality of rounded notches 9 arranged in equi-distantly spaced relation with respect to each other along the lower edge of the slot 6, for a purpose which will be presently described. The lower edge of the clamping plate 5 is preferably scalloped as shown, and a corner thereof is cut-away in rounded formation as at I0, the cut-awayportion having formed thereon a lug II disposed rearwardly at right angles with respect to the clamping plate to facilitate the application and removal of the latter with respect to the license plate, as well as the license plate with respect to the holder, as will be apparent.

Struck from the body plate I and extending rearwardly therefrom in diagonal relation with respect thereto, is a pair of parallel ears I2 having registering slots therein to slidably receive the lower link I3 of a spring pressed lever that includes an upper link It! pivotally secured to the lower link, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. The upper link has secured thereto adjacent its upper end a shoulder headed member I5 in the form of a rivet that is slidably mounted in the slot 6 to be received in any one of the notches 9 for adjusting the size of the holder so that the latter ris capable of fitting license plates of various sizes, and the member I5 is applicable and removable with respect to the slot 6 by the rounded recess 8.

In order to hold the shouldered headed member I5 in any one of the notches 9, to secure the license plate within the holder, as will be apparent, there is provided an expansion coil spring I6 that is sleeved on the lower link I3 between the ears I2` and has one end convolution engaged with the upper ear I2 and its lower convolution with abutment means adjustably associated with the lower link to vary the tension of the spring I6. The abutment means in the form as shown, is made up of a pair of like shaped disk members or washers I1 recessedfrom their peripheries in rectangular formation as at I8 to be mounted in either pair of notches I9 arranged in the link I3, as best shown in Figure 4, and the washers are inserted from the opposite sides of the link for disposal in face to face relation. Formed on the washers upon opposite sides of the recesses thereof are locking lugs 20 and the lugs of one washer contact the periphery of its companion washer for cooperation with the spring I6 to hold the washers xed to the link I3, against any possibility of casual removal or displacement, as will be apparent. Y

From the above description and disclosure of the drawing, it will be obvious that I haveprovided a license plate holder that allows for the ready application and removal of the plate with respect thereto, and is adjustable to t license plates of various sizes. In applying the plate to the holder, it is rst disposed within the channel flanges 3, thence the clamping plate is disposed in place with the license plate in the `ilanges 5. The proper adjustment of the lever is then made, so as to draw the clamping plate in binding association with lthe license plate and thereby prevent any possibility of rattling, casual removal or displacement thereof.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and inthe combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

yWhat I `claim is:

1. A license plate holder comprising a body plate and a clamping plate, channel flanges Vformedon the body and clamping plates for receiving the edges of a license plate therein, andl a lever having one end resiliently connected to the body plate and its opposite end pivotally connected to the 'clamping plate for drawing the latter against the license plate for securing the same to the holder.

2. A license plate holder comprising a rectangular shaped body plate providing a backing for a license plate, a clamping plate, channel flanges formed on the body and clamping plates for receiving the edges of the license plate therein, a llever lincluding pivotally connected links and having one end resiliently connected to the body plate and its opposite end pivotally and adjustably connected to the clamping plate for adjusting the klat-ter with respect to the body plate for cooperation therewith to receive license plates of various sizes, and for drawing the clamping plate against the license plate for securing the same to the holder.

3. A license plate comprising a rectangular shaped body plate providing a backing for a license plate, a clamping plate, channel flanges formed on the body and clamping plates for receiving the edges of the license plate, a lever including pivotally connected links, ears formed on the body plate and having one of said links slidably mounted therein, means pivotally and adjustably connecting the other link to the clamping plate, and a spring secured on the first mentioned link for drawing the clamping plate against the license plate for securing the same to the holder.

4. A license plate holder comprising a body plate providing a backing for a license plate, a clamping plate of elongated formation and having a slot extending longitudinally therein with notches entering said slot, channel flanges formed on the body and clamping plates for receiving the edges of a license plate therein, ears formed on the body plate, a lever including pivotally connected links and one of said links being slidably mounted through the ears, a headed member secured tothe other link for movement in the slot for adjustment of the clamping plate with respect to the body plate for cooperation therewith for fitting license plates of various sizes, said headed member being receivable n I;

anyone of the notches for holding the clamping plate in adjusted positions, abutment means on the i'lrst mentioned link and a coil spring engaged with one of said ears and the abutment means for drawing the clamping plate against the license plate for securing the latter to the holder.

5. A license plate holder comprising a body plate providing a backing for a license plate, a clamping plate, channel flanges formed on the body and clamping plates for receiving the edges of the license plate therein, a pair of parallel ears struck from the body plate and having slots therein, a lever having one end pivotally connected to the clamping plate and its opposite end portion slidably mounted in the slots, the latter portion of the lever having pairs of notches therein, a coil spring sleeved on the lever between the ears for drawing the clamping plate against the license plate for securing the latter to r the holder, and a pair of companion washers cooperating with one of said ears to provide abutment means for the spring and said washers being receivable in any pair of notches to vary the tension of the spring.

FRED PAINE. 

